There was not only an admittance to the exhibition hall, but speaking by various gentlemen of the town and from abroad. CHESTER TOWN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. Chester is a lively competitor with Derry for agricultural commendation. It has an older society and has had more time to make progress. The officers of the society according to our record are— The seventh annual fair of the Chester Agricultural Society was held on Thursday, September 26. A rainy morning with occasional showers during the day prevented exhibitors from bringing the usual quantity of products, although the quality was fully equal to previous years. About thirty yoke of oxen were present to compete for premiums. The exhibition of other stock was small, owing to the unfavorable weather. The show of fruit was very fine, and places Chester in the front rank as one of the best fruit-producing towns in New Hampshire. The show of vegetables was rather meagre in quantity, but fair in quality. There was a very fair exhibition of trace corn, mostly of good quality and large size, the trace exhibited by S. F. Learned being particularly noticeable. The show in the dairy department was small, with the exception of a fine display of cheese by Mrs. Edwin Haselton. There was an excellent exhibition of cut flowers and house plants, and some very fine products of the ladies' skill in ornamental and useful articles, but the quantity was much less than usual. Bond's Band of Boston furnished excellent music during the day and evening. In the afternoon there was a large attendance, and during the evening the hall was comfortably crowded, although the rain prevented many from being present. Remarks were made by Dr. J. F. Brown, Capt. S. F. Learnard and S. S. Chamberlain of Chester, Stephen Holt of Epping, and Capt. N. H. Brown of Derry. EPPING FARMERS' CLUB. Formerly this has been an active institution, and is now capable of making itself felt throughout the state. Its officers are President-George N. Shepherd. Vice President - N. G. Plummer. Corresponding Secretary-D. W. Nason. KENSINGTON FARMERS' CLUB. One of the best farmers' clubs in the State is that at Kensington. The members have held regular meetings for discussion during the winter and furnished much practical information by the manner in which they have conducted their exercises. The officers are President-Weare N. Shaw. Vice Presidents - Joseph Poor, Stephen Green, F. K. Mace. Secretary-Joseph W. Brown. Treasurer Cyrus D. Wadleigh. RYE FARMERS' CLUB. The farmers of Rye maintained a club during the winter. President-E. B. Philbrick. Secretary-E. C. Jenness. DEERFIELD FARMERS' CLUB. The Deerfield club is a vigorous one, and has from year to year made a favorable impression by its discussions. We have no official record of its management. STRAFFORD COUNTY ORGANIZATION. Strafford county, though small in territorial extent, has the material for more agricultural organizations. Nearly every town might well sustain a club and make an annual fair. It has, however, but two or three farmers' clubs and but one agricultural society. STRAFFORD COUNTY SOCIETY. The County Society which has been an active and prosperous one, did not hold a fair in 1872, on account of the holding of the State Fair in that county which absorbed the entire interest. It will hold an exhibition September 23, which will continue four days. The officers of the society the present year are President John S. Haines, Somersworth. - Vice-Presidents-Elisha Locke, Barrington; Luther Hayes, Milton. Treasurer - Ira S. Ricker, New Durham. Directors Col. Daniel Hall, Charles H. Trickey, Dover; Stephen S. Chick, John S. Haines, Somersworth; Charles S. Whitehouse, Joseph Nutter, Rochester; N. G. Davis, Lee; Ira A. Locke, Madbury; William F. Jones, Durham; John F. Cloutman, Farmington; Ira S. Ricker, New Durham; Robert B. Peavey, Strafford; Elisha Locke, Barrington; A. G. Orne, Middleton; David O. Cate, Rollinsford. It is the intention of the society to hold a fair this fall which will be superior to any ever held in this county. ROLLINSFORD FARMERS' CLUB. This club has been maintained for another year, though some personal sacrifice was required to make it efficient. The Secretary is J. D. Roberts. We have no further report of its officers. DOVER AND ROCHESTER UNION CLUBS. President Joseph N. Hayes. Vice Presidents-Samuel K. Pickering, Charles Clark, Joseph W. Bennett, James F. Horne. Recording Secretary-Hiram S. Osborn. Corresponding Secretary-James M. Hayes. Treasurer Moses Meader. Executive Committee - Charles Clark, William J. Chesley, John W. Hall, Hiram Corson, H. S. Osborn, G. H. Varney, Stephen Jenness. This club has been organized one year and has a membership of forty. It has for its object the discussion of all subjects per taining to the interests of the farmer, and the improvement of agriculture. During the past season, among other subjects discussed, have been the following: The best method of feeding stock; What is the best rotation of crops; Manures, their manufactures, preservation and application; Fruit culture; Does book farming pay. Several members of the Board met with the club for an afternoon and evening meeting. The farmers were out in good numbers, and with them their wives and daughters. The young men were fully represented. The section embraced in the limits of the organization constitutes one of the best farming localities in Strafford county, and is occupied by a class of well-to-do and intelligent farmers. After the preliminaries of opening the meeting, the President of the club introduced Judge Roberts, who discussed the subject of RENOVATING PASTURES. He spoke of the present worn and depreciated condition of pastures. He thought pure and abundant water was greatly needed, in order to produce health in the animals grazing our pastures, though sometimes there is too much water, when drainage should be resorted to; should lands be in wood half the time for a century the product would be as great as now. If wood growth did not restore the fertility it would go a great way towards it. Plowing should be practiced, and small, scattered trees and shrubs should be removed; ashes should be applied. We need in sowing down a large variety of grasses. The restoration of our pastures will save our farms. Judge Roberts presented several other points, and closed with an earnest exhortation to put forth the effort and save our grazing lands from further depreciation. Mr. H. S. Osborne approved Mr. Roberts's remarks, and referred to a tract of his land from which the growth had been cut, and said it produced little besides brakes. He desired to know what to do with it. Mr. Roberts said if it was wet drain it; if not, mow off the brakes. Mr. Charles Clark, who has seen much of the world, (and we venture to say has never traveled with his eyes shut), said men complained of the want of time to look after their pastures, but he noticed such men had time enough to go to shows and "agricultural horse trots." They must take time. Our pastures are sources of our salvations, and we must take care of them. He had hired pasturage, but he had made up his mind to take care of his pastures and hire no more stock pastured. Mr. W. J. Chesley thought Mr. Osborne's brakes would yield to the plow, and his best way would be to remove the stumps and put in the plow. He related Governor Hill's experiment in feeding down winter rye for three years, the fourth yielding a good crop. He related successful experiments in ditching, in removing pines, alders and other bushes. Cut alders on the dark of the moon in August and there will be no trouble. The Secretary occupied a little time in referring to the importance of abandoning our roughest pastures to wood, applying bone-dust and other top-dressing, keeping sheep, soiling, etc. After a short time more in discussing the pasture question, Mr. Adams gave an address on the way to be saved as farmers, which we only mention, as it will be repeated at other clubs. Judge Roberts commented on the talk of the Secretary, and desired to impress its teachings on every mind. A similar expression was made by Mr. Chesley, Mr. Osborne, and others. In the evening Mr. Lawrence gave his address on the saving of manures, which led to a full and earnest discussion. This club is one of the best organized associations in the State. STRAFFORD TOWN FAIR. According to custom the people of Strafford held a town fair and made a good display of cattle and farm productions. We have no report. Officers: President-R. B. Peavey. Secretary-Dr. Frank Murphy. Durham organized a club a year ago, but no evidence has been furnished that it is still alive. |